Thugs begin life sentences for kicking father to death

Two teenagers convicted of murder for kicking to death a man protecting his mentally-handicapped son from their taunts were today starting life sentences.

Arthur Beardsell, 64, was punched to the ground by Ray Steadman and Chris Bryan, both 17, after he had repeatedly pleaded with them to leave his son Gary alone.

Mr Beardsell and Gary were confronted by Bryan and Steadman in the street in Dagenham, east London, last September, a police spokesman said.

They approached Gary, grabbed him and demanded a cigarette. When he tried to explain that he did not have any they called him a ‘‘fat git’’.

They ordered Gary, who is now 30 but has a mental age of nine, to apologise, humiliating him although he had done nothing to offend them.

Mr Beardsell intervened to tell the youths to leave his son alone but Steadman continued to demand an apology, ignoring the son who repeatedly told them he was sorry.

But even as Mr Beardsell was pleading with them, Steadman was already trying to hit the son. The father was then punched in the face and knocked to the ground where he was kicked and his head was stamped on.

When the police arrived Mr Beardsell was blue in the face and not breathing.

He had inhaled his vomit leading to bronchopneumonia which caused his death the next day.

Steadman and Bryan, of Dagenham, insisted that any blows delivered were done in self defence.

The pair, who were convicted of murder on May 18, were sentenced to life imprisonment at the Old Bailey yesterday.

Judge Martin Stephens lifted the court order which had banned Steadman and Bryan being identified, the police spokesman said.

Steadman was convicted by a 10 to two majority and Bryan was unanimously found guilty.

Steadman’s brother Terry, 21, was cleared of murder. All three had denied the charges.